HUNTING 145 



hatchet is carried by one of the hunt servants, 

 as wire nippers are at home, and if a stazionate 

 is too high and unbreakable, the top bar is 

 knocked off, and the field have no false pride 

 in jumping two bars instead of three. The 

 only other obstacles are stone walls, fairly 

 low, and as they are unmortared and rather 

 like our Scottish dykes, they are not nearly 

 so formidable as the post and rails, besides 

 which they are all in one bit of country by 

 themselves, so one had either a wall or a 

 timber day. 



Italian officers are ordered out to hunt to 

 improve their riding and their eye for country. 

 Moreover, they are obliged to hunt in uniform. 

 Imagine a smart Lancer or Hussar officer in 

 helmet or busby charging a black bull-finch at 

 home ; the hunting-field would not boast of so 

 many gallant thrusters as it does at present. 



Some of these Italians, both soldiers and 

 civilians, are fine riders and good sportsmen ; 

 possibly their love and admiration for most 

 things British have encouraged their sporting 

 proclivities. 



IO 



